Modern Vespa

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A few friends of mine decided to do a bullrun on our scooters. Im not sure what to take. My 08 Vespa GTS 250 with 20,050 miles or my 09 Sportcity with 512 miles. We are leaving San Jose 6am Friday and hope to het to Hollywood before it gets dark. I think its between 350 to 400 miles ride. We will trailer the scooters back home Sunday. What would you guys take?

I'd take the Sport City. Less miles. However do you have it fully broken in? If not take the GTS (assuming it's been serviced recently). Sounds like fun. Be careful.

Pros and cons to both, my GTS is more comfortable for longer periods of time in the saddle but the Sports City handle better at high speeds and on rough road surfaces. Since you are taking a route originated by a 50cc high speeds probably isn't an issue (GTS does well with them but the 15" wheels on the Sports City make it more stable over say 70-75). I'd take the one you like riding the best though you may not know about how well you like riding the Sports City long distances.

I had the same choice to make for the cannonball. I'm taking the Sports City for that one because of dirt roads and because I just had a lovely custom paint job on the GTS last year and don't want it pinged up riding on dirt/gravel. Sports City is a daily rider for my university kid and not metal so if something happens it is easyish to replace a panel.

Sport city is rarely broken in. It was purchased september of 2012.

the GTS has 20,050 mile. It was serviced feb of 2013 for belt, variator and rebuilt clutch at 12,500 miles. In sept of 2013 oil change, head, head gasket and sparkplug was done at 19,000 miles. The head was replaced because the thred got messed up while changing the sparkplug.

Most of my frieds are briging their rukus

Take the Sports City - it needs some running time and will fit in better with the Rucki.

Hi Everyone. I sold my sportcity and decided to take the GTS. It was raining hard the whole day. 7 Ruckus, Grom, Riva and my GTS. I was 3rd on the back and going on a very sharp of the clip turn. Ruckus in front of me lost control and I end up pressing locking my brake causing me to crash on the sidewall. Luckily its all mud and suffer cosmetic damage. Everyone was supprised that no dents and just light scratches that. An be buffed out. And of course I was wearing full gear. My handle bar is off alignment by 15 degrees. We ere able to straight it out but would like to take to mechanic to get the head bearings replaced at same time since i dont have the headbearing specialtool. How much does it usually cost?

also when i got home after riding 150 freeway miles back i noticed that my engine is idling up and down like it sounded a racing cam. I turned it off and turned it back on and seems fine. Any idea?

Sorry about the mishap.

Why replace the head bearings? Is it because of the handlebars getting misaligned? If so, don't bother. The head bearings are unrelated to the handlebar alignment. You just need to tighten the pinch bolt on the handlebars.

-Craig

Well its original headbearing with 20 k miles. Is it time to replace?

No - why would it be?

As for the bars being out of alignment - just knock them gently against the end stop until they're straight again. If this is too easy to do, consider tightening the pinch bolt - but remember the bars are supposed to be able to move wrt the steering tube when knocked hard.

i have the front cover out now. The steering is still a little to the right. Do i just loosen the clamp bar and straighten it out? What side is the allen wrence since i need to biy one

IIRC, the allen key is 8mm - but it's usually cheaper to buy a whole set.